Postgraduate Course: Assessment, Measurement and the Multidisciplinary Approach (PAMA11054)
Course Outline
| School | Deanery of Clinical Sciences |
College | College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
| Course type | Online Distance Learning |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 10 |
ECTS Credits | 5 |
| Summary | Assessment and measurement of pain are key to the effective management of pain and often provide the fundamental first steps for patient professional interaction. |
| Course description |
This course is the second of six core subjects in the Clinical Management of Pain programme. It aims to provide you with an opportunity to examine, challenge and update your understanding of assessment and measurement of pain in clinical practice.
Assessment and Measurement are key to the effective management of pain and often provide the fundamental first steps for patient professional interaction. Barriers and difficulties in assessment and measurement are explored as are the current models of best practice.
This is a 5-week distance learning course worth 10 credits. Students are expected to spend 20 hours per week on this course. Students will be given a brief overview of the course and will then be provided with relevant materials and resources. Specific tasks and online exercises relating to each weeks topic will be set. A final submitted assessment will be required for the course.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
| Additional Costs | No |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2025/26, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
MVM Online Learning Block 1 |
| Course Start Date |
15/09/2025 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
100
(
Lecture Hours 4,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 14,
Online Activities 15,
Feedback/Feedforward Hours 2,
Formative Assessment Hours 2,
Summative Assessment Hours 26,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
35 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Assessment and Feedback in this course is covered by the University of Edinburgh Assessment and Feedback Principles and Priorities. These can be found at this link https://edwebcontent.ed.ac.uk/sites/default/files/atoms/files/assessmentfeedbackprinciplespriorities.pdf .
The key principles that underpin assessment activities are evidence-based practice and the application of theory to clinical practice.
Assessment will consist of the following:
Assignment 1: Contribution to asynchronous discussion board 10% (2% x 5 weeks)
Assignment 2 : Submission of plan for final assignment 200 -300 words (Formative)
Assignment 3: Submission of a 2000 word written assignment ( 90%)
If you fail to make a reasonable attempt at any of the assessments in the course, you risk a failing grade for the course, which may have repercussions in your ability to achieve a final award in the programme. |
| Feedback |
Assessment and Feedback in this course is covered by the University of Edinburgh Assessment and Feedback Principles and Priorities. These can be found at this link https://edwebcontent.ed.ac.uk/sites/default/files/atoms/files/assessmentfeedbackprinciplespriorities.pdf .
Throughout your studies, you will receive regular feedback on your work. This helps to maximise the effectiveness of learning and teaching and enhances your performance. Feedback can be any comment from another person that may result in improving your learning and understanding. It is important to remember that feedback is not always in written form on a marked piece of work. Whilst feedback can take this form, most of the feedback you will receive during your university career may not associated with a mark.
Feedback is provided on all items of in-course assessment, both summative and formative. Formative feedback may take the form of group feedback where only salient points for the whole group are provided.
When marked work is returned to you, it is your responsibility to read and think about the feedback given and not just look at the mark. The feedback gives you an indication of what you did well, what you misunderstood and what you did not address correctly. If you have any questions, please contact the named Course Organiser. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Articulate the differences between assessment and measurement;
- Delineate the domains of assessment and measurement and their relevance to clinical practice;
- Appreciate the implications of the assessment and measurement of pain in special populations;
- Identify and interpret limitations and barriers to the assessment and measurement of pain in different clinical contexts.
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Reading List
A list of Learning Resources will be provided to ensure access to appropriate and relevant resources to enable full participation in this course.
Details about the Learning Resource Lists can be found at https://www.ed.ac.uk/information-services/research-teaching-staff/resource-lists/information-for-students .
Below is a selection of some of the resources that you will be expected to engage with during the course. This is an indicative list and may be amended in light of more recent and relevant resources becoming available.
Ballantyne,J., S. Fishman, J.P. Rathmell, & I. Ovid Technologies (eds.) (2019a) Bonicas management of pain editors, Jane C. Ballantyne, Scott M. Fishman, James P. Rathmell. 5th edition. Philadelphia, Wolters Kluwer Health.
Bendinger, T. & Plunkett, N. (2016) Measurement in pain medicine. BJA Education. 16 (9), 310315. doi:10.1093/bjaed/mkw014.
Cowen, R., Stasiowska, M.K., Laycock, H. & Bantel, C. (2015) Assessing pain objectively: the use of physiological markers. Anaesthesia. 70 (7), 828847. doi:10.1111/anae.13018.
Deldar, K., Froutan, R. & Ebadi, A. (2018) Challenges faced by nurses in using pain assessment scale in patients unable to communicate: a qualitative study. BMC nursing. 17 (1), 1118. doi:10.1186/s12912-018-0281-3.
Dequeker, S., Van Lancker, A. & Van Hecke, A. (2018) Hospitalized patients vs. nurses assessments of pain intensity and barriers to pain management. Journal of advanced nursing. 74 (1), 160171. doi:10.1111/jan.13395.
Fillingim, R.B. (2017) Individual differences in pain: Understanding the mosaic that makes pain personal. Pain (Amsterdam). 158 (4), S11S18. doi:10.1097/j.pain.0000000000000775.
Kroenke, K. (2018) Pain measurement in research and practice. Journal of general internal medicine: JGIM. 33 (Suppl 1), 78. doi:10.1007/s11606-018-4363-4.
Lalloo, C., Kumbhare, D., Stinson, J.N. & Henry, J.L. (2014) Pain-QuILT: Clinical feasibility of a web-based visual pain assessment tool in adults with chronic pain. Journal of medical Internet research. 16 (5), e127227. doi:10.2196/jmir.3292.
Main, C.J. (2016) Pain assessment in context: A state of the science review of the McGill pain questionnaire 40 years on. Pain (Amsterdam). 157 (7), 13871399. doi:10.1097/j.pain.0000000000000457.
Mccormick, T. & Law, S. (2016) Assessment of acute and chronic pain. Anaesthesia & Intensive Care Medicine. 17 (9), 421424. doi:10.1016/j.mpaic.2016.06.007.
Turk, D.C. (2010b) Handbook of Pain Assessment [electronic resource]. Third edition. New York:, Guilford Publications.
Turk, D.C., Fillingim, R.B., Ohrbach, R. & Patel, K.V. (2016) Assessment of Psychosocial and Functional Impact of Chronic Pain. The journal of pain. 17 (9), T21T49. doi:10.1016/j.jpain.2016.02.006.
Zaccagnino, M.P. & Nedeljkovic, S.S. (2017) Pain Assessment Tools. In: Pain Medicine. Cham, Springer International Publishing. pp. 7781. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-43133-8_21.
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
During this course students will have to develop the ability to work independently as well as interact with fellow students. Students will develop skills in reflective practice as they draw on their own knowledge and experience, and that of other students, to complete their assignments. Their knowledge and understanding of the topic will improve, but students will also learn generic approaches and skills such as critical analysis and complex reasoning. Students will be expected to develop skills in literature searching, information synthesis and drawing reasoned conclusions from resources and information provided throughout the course. During assignment completion, skills such as presentation, academic writing and accurate referencing should be developed. As the course is presented by online learning, it aims to contribute to students IT, writing and communication skills which can be applied to both clinical and academic environments.
Or highlighting the various Graduate Attributes in turn:
GENERIC COGNITIVE SKILLS: the ability to apply critical analysis, evaluation and synthesis to forefront issues and developments, develop original and creative responses to problems and issues, critically review, consolidate and extend knowledge, skills, practices and thinking, deal with complex issues and make informed judgements in situations in the absence of complete or consistent data/information.
COMMUNICATION, IT AND NUMERACY SKILLS: use a wide range of routine skills and a range of advanced and specialised skills such as communication with peers, more junior or senior colleagues and specialists, evaluation of a wide range of numerical data.
AUTONOMY, ACCOUNTABILITY AND WORKING WITH OTHERS: exercise substantial autonomy and initiative in professional and equivalent activities, work in a peer relationship with specialist practitioners, demonstrate leadership and/or initiative and make an identifiable contribution to change and development and/or new thinking, manage complex ethical and professional issues. |
| Keywords | biopsychosocial pain management approaches |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Mr Neil Clark
Tel: (0131 2)42 6130
Email: neil.clark2@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Ms Ewelina Skala
Tel: (0131 5)37 1000
Email: eskala2@exseed.ed.ac.uk |
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